Recognizing a Tick Bite



Posted: Saturday, November 21, 2009

by
http://www.itchyskinrash.net

If you spend time outdoors camping or gardening you may be worried about getting bitten up by insects. Bug bites are frustrating but some can spread diseases and a tick bite that carries lymes disease is something to watch out for. Generally insect bites are important to observe as they can cause swelling and if scratched or aggravated result in bacterial infections. . Tick bites are common, but if you are aware of the signs you can analyze and take action.

What's a tick? It is small insects that cling on to the skin and actually consume your blood. This doesn't sound as romantic as the vampire stories, does it? They often live on the hair of animals and even can be on birds hidden in their feathers. The peak times for bites from ticks seems to be spring into early fall, but you can get bitten by a tick anytime..

How do you recognize a bite from a tick? It can look like a mosquito bite as there can be a red pimple plus itching. Some people will get the classical bull's eye rash that is connected to the deer tick. But you may have lime disease and not have this symptom, so don't rule it out. Remember that some ticks carry a disease. When you have a tick, you may not notice anything for a few days after the initial bite. You may notice symptoms like nausea, a fever, migraines and weakened muscles. Always tell your doctor about every symptom and mention if you've recently been camping or outdoors to help him.

One tick in the news a lot is the deer tick. The deer tick is black and there is a grey sac. It's small but visible to the eye. Because it can carry lymes disease it is imperative to see treat it properly if you notice the bull's eye rash. Many people who ignore this symptom end up with symptoms including memory confusions and muscle weakness till treated. Antibiotics are important to treat the deer tick infections that cause lyme disease. You may not even notice anything for ten days after exposure.

The wood tick is another tick to keep your eyes out for. Some people call it a dog tick. Be careful as it can cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This starts with initially a series of tiny red dots around the ankles and wrist areas and then spreads.

Fortunately most ticks are not carriers of diseases, but you can't know this for sure. No one likes a bug bite but it's scary when it can lead to infection and disease. If you see a tick on your body, remove it carefully. If you can save it to show your doctor, that will help with the diagnosis. Be sure to wash the skin and apply alcohol. It is best to use a tweezer and carefully grab it by the part closest to your skin to pull it out straight. Don't twist the tweezers as you want it to come out straight and not stay in your skin. You can use gloves if you don't have a tweezer handy but don't use unprotected hands. Put a little antibiotic on your skin afterwards.

When camping , gardening or doing outdoor activities try to wear shirts that have long sleeves , long pants and socks. There are tick repellants available in stores and online. Examine your skin thoroughly and if you were out with your dog, check him too for any ticks. You can still enjoy the outdoors but do it with awareness so there isn't a price to pay later.

Learn more about Symptoms of Tick Bites and Lymes Disease Signs as well as other skin rash problems.

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